subject: Costa Rica Wildlife Attractions [print this page] Costa Rica is blessed with rainforest, cloud forest, and long stretches of beautiful beaches which provide important habitats for many rare species. Before you finalize your Costa Rican vacation take a look at this list and make sure you fit in at least one wildlife excursion.
Tortuguero National Park
Even the hardest hearts will be moved from a close encounter with the beautiful green sea turtle, and there is no better place to see these creatures than on the tropical beaches of Tortuguero National Park. This park is a hatching area for the turtles, which means lucky travelers have a great chance of seeing a female climb steadily up the beach, weary from her 1500 mile swim, but determined to lay her eggs on the same beach where she was born and where she has laid her eggs every 2 to 4 years of her adult life. Or, if you are even luckier you may see the 100 to 200 hatchlings emerge from the sand for their dangerous dash to the sea. Most of them are snatched up by predators like birds and crabs before they make it to the safety of the water, which makes this wildlife encounter especially heartrending as you root for the little turtles to make it.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Home to 5 species of cats, 400 birds, and 2,500 species of plants, Monteverde is one of the most verdant and beautiful places to get acquainted with Costa Ricas's natural splendors. Travelers to this region can horseback ride, hike, canopy walk, or zip line through the high altitude rain forest for spectacular views of mountains lush with foliage and beautifully colored butterflies and hummingbirds.
Braulio Carrillo
This National Park is only a 35 minute drive from San Jose which makes it an ideal daytrip from the country's capital. Pristine and relatively untouched this lush, moist rain forest refuge is emerald green and full of native plants and flowers like large, delicate orchids. The park has an Aerial Tram that carries visitors through the canopy allowing glimpses of hidden species that are often impossible to see from the forest floor.
